http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Guatemala , Panajachel en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:17:19 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:17:19 UTC Panajachel aka Pana is the busiest and most built up town around Lake Atitlan. We took a boat to a hotel La Casa del Mundo near Jaibalito for breakfast. Itrsquos built on a secluded cliff and Lonely Planet calls this place the most magical hotel in Guatemala and itrsquos certainly not too far from the truth At every turn there was a Kodak moment and there were enough lounge chairs I http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-350048.html Panajachel 10 abril 1990.It039s just a few minutes after 01.00 h. in the morning and we039ve found ourselves a local bar allright.We found this place after manuevering ourselves through a maze of little small alleys behind the market. I remember how we saw drunk locals lying at the side of the alley not an uncommon sight in this heck of the woods borrachos vomiting their guts out and http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-319399.html Having done Mexico from Mexico CityOaxaca and Puerto Escondidoand finall San Cristobalwe arrived in Guatemala yesterday. Staying by Lake Atitlan. Will add more soon. http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-319389.html Panajachel later during the night.Por todos los dioses imaginados por el ser humano this was unexpected and is getting totally out of control.Peter and Michael are already drunk out of their collective skulls Nora is getting to that state where she039ll take off her clothes and starts dancing again singing softly in her Louisiana accented french. We039ve moved to the bar039s garden and http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-319039.html Panajachel 09 abril 1990.I come back exhausted and dead tired from my long and strenouos hike to San Marcus La Laguna. I need a bath really but I feel so hungry I decide to go to my favourite gringo bar here in Pana first to wolf down a socalled Texas Breakfast three omelettes two hamburgers fried potatoes fresh vegetables bread coffee and a Bloody Mary On The Rocks.Upon entering I can hea http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-318638.html Panajachel 8 abril 1990.It was only four kilometer from Panajachel to Santa Catarina Palopo a small village with adobe houses with corrugated roofs where the stray dogs barked at me and chicken crossed the narrow stone paved streets while the village children followed me around.I found myself a small comedor with a sign outside that said cervezas fras. Ordering this elusive cerveza fria that http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-318285.html Between Solola and Panajachel 07 abril 1990.I039ve decided to walk the eightodd kilometer from Solola to Panajachel.Upon leaving Solola my first stop is the cemetery which is colorful and interesting with graves going back all the way to the time of the spanish conquistadores. These spanish soldiers that died so far away from their native spanish soil often by the arrows of rebelious indio http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-317977.html Dear FriendsSo never before have I written two letters within such a short proximity of each other. But alas I am venturing to an area where I don't know what my next chance to write will be. Let me continue.A few weeks before I left on this trip I read this story on the cover of the New York Times. httpwww.nytimes.com20080803us03deport.htmlr1scp6sqguatemalastcseorefsloginIt http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/blog-317761.html Solola 06 abril 1990.I039ve come to Solola mostly of the friday market which according to the locals is the best in the Central Guatamala Highlands. Having arrived late yesterday afternoon I can now see the arrival of the traders from dozens of surrounding villages and small towns while having breakfast. Each village has got its own colorful costumes and designs which are worn with pride.They http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-317658.html FriendsSo the past few days Jin and I have been doing some obligatory highly touristed activities. They have been much fun believe you me much fun and highly unoriginal. But hopefully we bring our own originality to the mix.First a vignette on my travel companion. Jin my college room mate ever playful with language and desperately lacking in Spanish skills has terribly mispronounced the http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/blog-317446.html Yesterday we sadly left Mexico after a fantastic couple of weeks. We left San Cristobal de las Casas at 7am to cross the border into Guatemala. After a very long travel day we finally arrived at Lake Atilan just in time for sunset drinks overlooking the Lake. They do the best frozen Margaritas We had our first experience of a chicken bus which was very cramped and hot after 3hours we were cert http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-311399.html San Petro 11 febrero 1990. the paintingAfter a confusing night full with bizarre dreams must have been that dope we smoked last night I woke up to that darned KnockKnockKncok on the door not being really surprised it was that Crazy Belgium again7o039clock James it is your newly found belgium buddy who wants to volcano climbing with you.By now it is nearly noon time and I039m sitt http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-311342.html San Petro night time.I039m lying flat on my back on my bed here in our little room trying to let the effect of that joint we just had do its work. WOW tell you mon this was really good shit.Has been a while since I smoked such good mariuana I039m really tripping on this dope.Memories of the past are coming back filling my head but in a real positive way African colors are swarming in f http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-311341.html San Pedro 11 021990. I am still trying to get over the bashing manhating constructiontype lesbian that was on the ferry with us from Panajachel to this little but very pretty Quetchua village called San Pedro.For reasons unknown to me this manhating bitch tried to bash me into the bottom of Lago Atitlan for wearing a Tshirt with cut off sleeves while her little ladyfriend timitly looked at http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-311339.html Panajachel 09021990. despite a bit of a hangover too much El Gallo last night we both feel pretty good and agreed over a hearty breakfast we are by now really getting into this trip.Leaving James alone at the breakfast bar he is well on the El Gallo beer trip I believe drinking away his hangover from last night I walk around the colorful streets of Panajachel. The streets are lined wi http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-311337.html Panajachel night time. So we found ourselves a reasonable good hotel a shower and a few hours to sleep off that all that beer we consumed after getting of the bus from Quetzaltenango.We are now in a bar and we know it is a gringo bar even though everybody around us is doing their very best to speak spanish I told you in the other entry that this place is nicknamed Gringotenango because of the h http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-311335.html Panajachel 09 02 1990. We are a bit tired and sweaty from the bus ride from Quetzaltenango to this picturesque little town called Panajachel though everybody calls it Gringotenango because of the many gringos that call this place their home for a shorter or longer time studying Espanyol. Despite the fact that we are sweaty and tired from the exhausting bus trip or maybe because of it Jame http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-311334.html Hi all hard to believe I'm in my last week We started another house on friday and unfortunately it won't be finished until next monday so I won't get to see the last day which is sad but hey never mind my sweat is in the foundations Just wanted to write about the weekend. A group of us went to lake Atitlan which was beautifull. We stayed in an ecolodge set in the hills of the lake. Saturd http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-308385.html Wersquore sorry did we say we were going to climb a volcano We meant that we were going to get up at the crack of dawn and wait for an hour on the curb until we realized that they were not in fact coming to get us. As Shalea pointed out itrsquos not the U.S. These things happen. We were pissy nonetheless. But not being so fond of the stew we decided to get the hell out of dodge. W http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/blog-259465.html Hola Amigos...This last 2 weeks i have been staying in Panajachel in Guatemala studying Spanish.Its a little village next to the beautiful lake Atitlan which is surrounded by volcanoes and many indigenous villages. Its been great staying in one places for so long and actually also doing something new and productive. Learning Spanish has been really difficult for me the first 2 days my head was http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-256483.html 15 February 2008 We left San Cristobal bright and early at 7 am. A bit too early for some of us notably me And headed for the border this was definately an interesting experience. The ADO dropped us off at the Mexican immigration office this took all of 5 minutes and then we jumped in taxis to cross the border. The taxis were interesting our one had the worst cracked windscreen we had seen a http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-254462.html Just as I digested the short ride the next chicken bus was kicked up multiple notches. This ride took us from Guatemala city to Panajachel. A smooth ride should take 3hrs. Just to put things in perspective I come from Japan who's got their train running on time down to the minutes. 5min that I've been accustomed to in the US is pretty lax for me. The bus left Guatemala City 930pm. http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/blog-235368.html Didnt know we were lost No nor did I... but if we were this would definitely be the place to find ourselves I have to admit to some surprise that San Marcos was Jacks recommendation given that it is a complete hippy new age hang out. It is right on Lake Atitlan described by Aldous Huxley as the most beautiful lake in the world I know I have already told you this but it really is stu http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-231307.html Hi AllLovely to get your messages... its always nice to get news from home. In case you are wondering there are no apostrophes on this keyboard which seems to be a Spanish one. Anyone who knows me well will know that this is killing me but I will just have to get my head around it.Anyway back to the fat Americans of the title... we had 3 good days at our hotel but decided that it was de http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-230848.html HiThird attempt to post due to technical difficulties so Im afraid it is getting shorter and shorter...We are now in Pana for Christmas day. Pana itself is a bit of a dusty tourist town we could be anywhere in Asia... and it seems to turn its back on the Lake for Mums benefit it is a Caldera which is gorgeous... like the Sounds but instead of hills there are 3 conical volcanoes rising http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-230336.html So the tour ended on Friday and most people went home. Just 4 of our group were carrying on to Mexico and the rest either went home or moved on on Saturday. It was a shame to say goodbye as they had ben a great group.So I ventured out on my own to Panajachel on Lake Atitilan. This is a very beautiful and quite European looking lake. Unfortunately though Panajachel relies heavily on tourism so http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-224595.html Hello againWell am alive and well in Guatemala which is quite an achievement given the road rules in this country or more accurately the lack of them I have never come across anything quite like it The roads in general are two lane but somehow they manage to fit in about 4 vehicles across all going about 120kms an hour and size doesnt seem to matter you can fit trucks buses minivans i http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-224095.html Not much to say about this one we get the 7am bus to Panajachel and dump our bags in a horrid hostel. Then assume an easy bus journey back to Chichicastenango where the Sunday market is... not so easy 2 buses and a collectivo later we arrive. The market is great though. All the tat you could wish for We go bartering crazyThe same convuluted journey home and a early night in the horrid fre http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-223523.html Jeg har vandret virkelig meget i dag og solen virker traettende.Samtidig var vi tidligt oppe for paa slaget syv at drage paa eventyr i Panajachels smaa bjerglandsbyer der omgiver den smukke soe.Soeen Lago de Atitlan er den tredjestoerste soe i Guatemala og efter sigende den dybeste soe i hele Centralamerika.Som I kan se paa billederne er den meget smuk som den ligger udstrakt og vugger med sit http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-221054.html I gaar forlod jeg Antigua. Saa er jeg eller vi paa farten igen.De sidste dage har vaeret virkelig skoenne. Antigua er en by som nok ikke i saerlig hoej grad afspejler et autentisk billede af det rigtige Guatemala men til gengaeld er byen fuld af backpackere der nyder livet. Turismen er i hoejsaedet her og det er tydeligt selvom det ikke oedelaegger den smukke gamle bys charme.I forgaars http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-220777.html